OV1

OV1 14 (spin stabilized) [USAF]

OV1 (with Vertistat) [General Dynamics]

The OV1 (Orbiting Vehicle 1) were small research satellite to be launched piggy back on Atlas ICBM test flights. They consisted in general of the OV1 satellite and the OV1-PM propulsion module (or upper stage) to reach orbit. Only OV1 1 and OV1 3 were launched on an ICBM, while all other Atlas flights were dedicated launches.

OV1 6 did not have a propulsion module as it was launched on the MOL testflight on a Titan-3C. OV1 8, OV1 16, OV1 20 and OV1 21 featured other payloads substituting the OV1 satellite. OV1 86 consisted of the spare OV1 8 satellite body and the OV1 6 propulsion module. In some cases, the PM did also carry an research payload (OV1 17A, OV1 20, OV1 21).

• OV1 1: Micrometeroites, cosmic radio noise, electron density, magntic fields, proton concentration, IR and UV emissions from earth; separation mechanism failed to release the satellite from the launch vehicle
• OV1 2: Proton-electron spectrometer, X-ray detector, magnetometer, 2 tissue-equivalent ion chambers, shielded proton-electron dosimeters
• OV1 3: Ion chamber, spectrometer, linear energy transfer with simulated human torso; Atlas exploded after 2 minutes of flight
• OV1 4: Biologic growth experiments (Chlorella algae and duckweed plants)
• OV1 5: Background optical radiation experiment (BORE) IR sensors
• OV1 6: Deployable optical targets
• OV1 7: Vertistat gravity gradient experiment; OV1 7 payload door jammed, solid rocket motor failed
• OV1 8: see PasComSat
• OV1 9: Exospheric radiation experiment (ERE), experimental attitude determination system
• OV1 10: 2 photometers (hydrogen and UV dayglow), monochromator ptometer, Geiger-counter, dual Rubidium-vapour magnetometer, heavy cosmic ray telescope, sample coatings, Bragg X-ray spectrometer, Vertistat-HAV gravity gradient experiment
• OV1 11: Earth nightglow, UV radiance, space plasma, oxygen in upper atmosphere, VLF radio detectors, solar X-ray, electron and proton flux detectors; OV1 11 failed to separate from the launch vehicle
• OV1 12: Flare activated radio-biological observatory (FARO)
• OV1 13: Geiger-counter, 4 spectrometers, magnetic analyzer, electrostatic analyzer, flexible CDS solar cells, friction and wear experiment
• OV1 14: Electromagnetic interference experiment, Lyman-alpha telescope
• OV1 15: Solar perturbation of atmospheric density experiment satellite (SPADES) Mesa triaxial accelerometer, hot and cold cathode ionisation gauges, solar X-ray and EUV detectors
• OV1 16: see LOADS 1
• OV1 17: ELF-radio propagation, horizon dayglow, nightglow particle and fields detectors, meteor trail calibration beacon, Vertistat-LAV
• OV1 18: Ionospheric effects, large dish antenna, auroral electrons detector, Vertistat-LAV
• OV1 19: Radiation belt detectors
• OV1 20: see OV1P 20, LOADS 2
• OV1 21: see OV1P 21, RTDS, Gridsphere 1 / 2, Mylar Balloon, Rigidsphere, LCS 4
• OV1 86: Radiometers, interferometers, cosmic ray telescope, Vertistat-LAV